The relationships between serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein and right ventricular echocardiographic indices in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Heart-type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (H-FABP) has been used in the diagnosis of myocardial damage. In this study, we assessed the relationships between serum H-FABP as a marker of cardiac injury and right ventricle (RV) echocardiographic indices in patients with stable COPD.

Materials And Methods: In this case-control study, 84 participants were investigated (50 COPD patients and 34 healthy subjects).

Economic burden of cardiovascular diseases before and after Iran's health transformation plan: evidence from a referral hospital of Iran.

Background: Different countries have set different policies to control and decrease the costs of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Iran was aiming to reduce the economic burden of different disease by a recent reform from named as health transformation plan (HTP). This study aimed to examine the economic burden of CVDs before and after of HTP.

Libman-Sacks endocarditis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: Libman-Sacks endocarditis (LSE) is characterized by sterile lesions that commonly affect the aortic and mitral heart valves. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with LSE. Cardiac manifestations including LSE could be interrelated with other manifestations and early diagnosis could help in preventing further complications.